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Monday October 14, 2024

When is next lunar eclipse in Pakistan?

Celestial event takes place when Earth passes between sun and moon

By Uneeba Zameer Shah
September 16, 2024
A lunar eclipse occurring as a shadow falls on the moon seen through a telescope. — AFP/File
A lunar eclipse occurring as a shadow falls on the moon seen through a telescope. — AFP/File

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has revealed that the country will experience a partial lunar eclipse on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. 

Unfortunately, the moon will be positioned below the horizon during certain phases and the eclipse will not be fully visible in Pakistan. 

Lunar eclipse is a phenomenon which occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon on its orbit and casts it shadow on its only natural satellite, Space.com explains. 

Lunar eclipses also provide clear evidence that the Earth is spherical, not flat, as the planet forms a curved shadow on the moon. This shadow, at times, appears as if it’s taking a bite out of the moon.

When and where can the eclipse be seen?

The eclipse in Pakistan will begin at 5:41am, with the partial phase of the lunar surface starting at 7:13am, according to the PMD.

The meteorological department expects the eclipse to reach its maximum point at 7:44am, and the partial lunar eclipse will end at 8:16am.

The entire eclipse is set to conclude at 9:47am, the PMD reports.

Other regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, will also experience the eclipse.

How will the moon look?

Space.com explains that this lunar eclipse will be subtle, in different regions of the world, with only the upper side of the moon covered by Earth's shadow, known as the umbra.

Aside from the top portion plunged into darkness, most of the lunar disk will be in Earth's penumbra, the lighter part of the shadow that allows some sunlight to reflect off the moon.

This will give the moon a reddish-brown, smudgy appearance during the phenomenon.